Top Tips for Turks and caicos
So you are heading to Providenciales in the Turks and Caicos. These are some tips and tricks I recommend after visiting this incredibly beautiful island.
Rent a Car
If you aren’t staying in Grace Bay or at an all-inclusive resort or like to explore beyond where you are
staying, you will absolutely need a car. Honestly, now having gone, I cannot imagine being here without
a car. The cost of taxi rides is very high so if you plan to go anywhere beyond walking distance it is best
to have a car. If you really don’t want to rent a car you need to stay in Grace Bay and bring cash for taxis.
The flexibility of having your own car is incredible. We were able to go to various beaches, attractions,
restaurants, and parking around the island is free.
Go to the grocery store
The cost of food and drinks is high on the island. If you are on a budget, you can get snacks, food for
breakfast or lunch and drinks and save a bunch of money. Even if you are not on a budget you will likely
want some drinks for your room or for the beach and it is significantly more cost effective to get these
supplies at the store. When we went, on the first day, we stopped at the store and got milk and cereal
for breakfast, bread and peanut butter for lunch, and drinks and probably saved hundreds of dollars by
doing that. Budget meals are around $15-20, mid-range are around $20-35 and more expensive
restaurants are more. Most 6 pack of beer is around $15 while each beer at a restaurant or bar is around
$6-7 per drink.
Bring Cash
Most places do accept credit cards but not all, so it is a good idea to have some cash on hand in case you
need it. Taxis for example take cash only. Since the Turks and Caicos uses USD it is easy to just grab
some extra and go home with it if you don’t need it.
Don’t obsess about the weather
The weather report is very variable. It might rain. Likely it will be for a short bit and then you will be back
in the sun. It can be windy but not to a point of inability to enjoy the beach, swimming, or other
activities.
Go kayaking
Kayaking is a great way to explore and enjoy the areas. You can kayak around the mangroves, on the
beach or in the iconic Chalk Sound. Many hotels include kayaks for free or you can rent them for a bit to
explore these areas. Some places also have clear kayaks for rent, and you can even do it with a
photoshoot.
Go Snorkeling
You can go snorkeling straight from the shore at Smith’s Reef and Bight Reef. To preserve the reef there
are ropes you can snorkel around. Wear reef safe sunscreen and bring your waterproof camera. These
snorkel spots are completely free. Some accommodations include snorkel gear or you can pack your
own. If you prefer to do an organized tour, there are full and half day tours to various locations that
often include stopping at other cays that are only accessible via boat.
Visit North and Middle Caicos
You will not be disappointed if you decide to make the trek over to North and Middle Caicos. These
islands are less populous, and you will feel like you are alone in paradise. To get there you will take a
ferry and book a rental car for when you arrive.
Prepare for the sun
You will 100% need sunscreen. Reapply, reapply, reapply. You will be wet, and you will sweat. If you are
snorkeling, get reef safe sunscreen. You will also need to drink a ton of water being out in the sun. The
water in Turks and Caicos is safe to drink from the tap but some say it is a little salty as it is made safe via
reverse osmosis. We drank the water and had no problems. You can also buy bottled water from the
grocery store to save money. We brought a water bladder to carry in our backpacks for our day trips to
stay hydrated. If you can bring a beach umbrella for some shade or take a break to cool down indoors
during the peak heat of the day.
Tips for Thursday fish fry
This is a weekly event on Thursday evenings. The location on Google maps and from outdated blogs is
incorrect (Bight Park) as the location has been changed to the Stubbs Diamond Plaza near Mr. Grouper
restaurant. It goes from 5:30 PM to 9:30 PM. It is very touristy, and parking can be a little bit
challenging. From the main road there are lots for $20 to park but if you go around the backside you can
parallel park and walk there. Streets behind include Princess Drive, Tropical Street and Grace Bay Road.
Here you can get drinks (including drinks in pineapples), local foods (fried fish but so much more), listen
and dance to live music and explore local artist/souvenir stalls. Some places do accept credit cards but
not all so bring some cash. It is busy so expect to find curbs to sit on or eat while standing.
getting home
When you are flying back home it is an important tip for you to know that you must have a printed
boarding pass. They do not accept QR codes from the phone. You will see people lined up for security
but if you don’t have a physical boarding pass, they won’t let you into security. We waited in a long line
just to find out we had to have actual boarding passes. Maybe this will change in the future, but for now,
go to the check in desk before hitting the security line. The airport was packed with people. There is an
upstairs and outdoors area to wait as well- these were also packed but maybe less so then the
downstairs.
I hope you enjoy your trip to the Turks and Caicos. I hope this helps you prepare for your trip.
